San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) crashed into Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) as he tries to drives to the basket during the first half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio.(Photo: Eric Gay/AP)

Such is this matchup for the Grizzlies, who began Monday night trying to even a first-round playoff series against the Spurs at 1-1 without their best defender.

Grizzlies defensive specialist Tony Allen is out indefinitely with a right calf injury. He fights Leonard on every possession. Allen works harder off the ball, has quicker hands and feet and is the Grizzlies’ most tenacious competitor.

Carter now has the assignment. He is a smart defender, understanding his physical limitations. Yet the NBA’s oldest active player doesn’t concede the matchup.

“He’s a guy who can make tough shots,” Carter said. “As good as a defensive play you think you may have made, he still can make a tough shot. It can be demoralizing sometimes. You just have to stay the course and make it tough for him. He’s earned all of the accolades he’s gotten. He competes on every play. My job is to compete.”

Carter mainly wants to move his feet and stay in front of Leonard. During one sequence in Game 1 last Saturday, Carter did just that only to watch Leonard pull up and bank in a three-point shot.

Carter raised both arms as if to say ‘Unbelievable. What else could I have done?’ Leonard tied his career playoff-high with 32 points on 11-of-14 shooting in Game 1.

But Leonard isn’t just Carter’s responsibility.

The Grizzlies use inexperienced wing players such as James Ennis and Wayne Selden to guard Leonard, who is quicker off the dribble in isolation sets.

Ennis is often too aggressive and gets into foul trouble. Selden is a physical defender but lacks the length to limit Leonard’s scoring ability on dribble drives to the basket.

“The biggest thing is not getting discouraged, and playing free and trusting one another on the defensive end,” Allen said when asked about defending Leonard earlier this season.

Leonard has played in four games against Memphis this season, including Game 1. Allen faced Leonard twice. Leonard averaged 32 points, 4.5 assists and just 1.5 turnovers per 36 minutes in the games without Allen. Leonard’s averages decreased to 19.9 points, 3.4 assists and 2.9 turnovers per 36 minutes when he didn’t have to face Allen.

Without Allen, the Grizzlies might consider throwing double-teams at Leonard.

Then again, there are no easy answers.

“That’s what star players do. It’s the playoffs,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Leonard following Game 1. “He stepped up. He made a lot of great plays for us.”